Magnet switch



Feb; 17, 1942.

H. v. ULLBERG MAGNET SWITCH l Filed Sept. 26, 1959 //\//E/\/ TDR HAROLD v. ULLBERG Y E I9 g5 Me atively small,

paratus.

I lowing ldescription,

u cured, together with Patented Feb. 17, 1942 2,273,67l MAGNET SWITCH Harold V. Ullberg, Portland, Oreg., assignor to L. E. Teeple Company, Portland, Oreg.

, VApplication September 26, 1939, Serial No. 296,580

(or. zoo-fm L A permanent magnet Il attracts the ireeend 7'Clalms. This inventionrelates to snap switches offthe type particularly adapted for use with conditioncontrol apparatus.

The principal object ofthis invention is to I reduce to the lowest possible value the dissipation of energy attending operation ci a switch, and, at the same time, to provide adequate contacting pressure between the points, and the requisite celerity of separation oi the points, when actuated by an approximately uniform, rel

A second object of the invention is to enhance the durability of the switch and the permanence of its 'eiiiciencm u l A A third object is the provision for a minimum number of partsvcapable of assembly with the fewest operations.

- A fourth object is the provision for rigidly conn ected conductors throughout to'insure the permanence of electrical eiiic'iency. Further objects will be apparent from the folwherein a practical embodiment of the l.invention is described.

In the drawing: Figure 1 represents a view of the top of the switch. v

force transmitted from control apl Y armature -Figure 2 represents a view of avertical longi-` iudinal section taken ure 1. v u

Figure 3 represents a transverse `section taken on the line 3 3 oi' Figure 2. l Figure 4 represents a view oi' the side oi the switch in elevation. y 1

Figure 5 is aside elevation of a modiiled form l of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing:

stationary contactpoint I is rigidly attached to adielectric base. 2 in a conventional manner to provide a connection with-a vsuitable binding s crewl. Asprlnglisrigidlysecuredtothe on the Vune s-z or Fig;

base andto a suitable binding screw I, to provide a spring mounting-forthe amature l sea spring-tongue 1, thereto by means of rivets I.

The iree end of the tongue l isiormed with a hook-I extendingfthrough an aperture Il in the armaturev i adapted to engage the latter which rises in response to a force applied through an actuator as II. rigidly secured to the tongue 'I and-is normally held in contact with the first point I by a bias loi' the tongue 1 tending to move the extremity 'l'he second contactfpoint II is oi' the hook I into contact with the armature I.

oi the armature 6 into contact with stop I4,

the attached end of the armature and result in the development, inthe end I 5 oi' the spring l, oi.' a :rotary moment commensurate with the angular deilection of the upper .part of the spring This energy will be represented by potential strains in the spring I restrained by the action of the magnet Il, end of the amature 8.

At that instant, whereat the.: progressively increasing anglar dellection of [the spring l develops a potential suillcient to overcome the attraction oi' the magnet I3, the armature 6 is actuated into the open position with great celerity. It \is calculated that during the time the 6 is rising to engage the hook 9 that the amature will have attained such a speed of movement as will safely separate the contact point I2 from the point I. y Where desired, to secure optimum sensitivity of the switch, that is, yoperation with minimum change of force or movement, a backstop I6` or a housing, coverplate,V or a portion of some related mechanism may be provided to restrict upward movement of the armature 6.

The.novelty of this invention resides particularly in the spring 4 which supports the armature I, provides a pivot for that member and also acts as a reservoir of potential energy to impart snap action to the separation oi the contacts.

Better'V to explain the several functions of spring l, an analogous alternate construction is shown 1in, Figure 5. In this construction the armature l is supported by the bracket I'l pivotally attached at Il to the upper end or spring I9, the lower end o! which is secured to the base 2. When force is initially applied by the stem II to armature C the armature will be constrained in contact-closed'v position resisting movement of the free lovercome. Spring It'then rapidly `to the fiexure of the elastic elements.

' with respect to an bodied chiefly in the U-bend portion of spring 4.

The spring 4 is made rigid between the end I5 and the zone A-A by bent-up ears ISA.

It must be noted that the spring l! need not be of the precise shape and form illustrated to perform its several functions, other forms having been proved capable of substantially equivalent results. v

It is to be observed that all o the moving parts of the switch are so mounted as to involve no friction of the parts other than that incident It is to be further especially observed that solid electrical conductors are provided to both contact points so that arcing may in no case occur between the various elements of the switch. No lubrication whatsoever is required, or desirable.

It lwill further be apparent that the force of contact between the points l. and l2 will be a definite function of the energy invested through the stem Il, unmodiiied by usual frictional losses.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire Patent is:

l. A switch comprising a pair of contact points mounted respectively upon a base and resiliently arm terminating in an armature, aleaf spring fixed at one of its ends to the base and attaching said arm resiliently and rockably to said base, magnetic means acting upon to protect by Letters `said armature to constrain said points into contact, and actuating means bearing upon said arm at its opposite extremity from said armature to bias the spring in a direction and to a degree to overcome said magnetic means to effect separation of said contact points, said spring being disposed for eiective support of said arm between the extremities thereof and being conformed. with a portion substantially parallel to said arm.

2.1In a switch', a base, a contact attached to said base, a magnet attached to said base, an armature disposed in apposition with said magnet, a second contact cooperating with said rst contact and carried by a switch lever terminating in said armature, a U-shaped resilient member fixed at one of its ends to said base and at its other end to said lever in a manner to rockably support said armature and said second contact, the sides of said resilient' member being substantially parallel to said lever, and switch actuating means engaging said lever near the opposite extremity from said armature in opposition to said resilient member and reacting therethrough against the restraint of said magnet thereby compressing the sides of said member to store energy prior to movement of said armature away from said magnet to impart snap action to the contacts. l

3. In a switch of the type employing a magnet and an armature to impart snap action to a pair the art without de-` of contacts upon application of a force to the armature in opposition to the magnet, the combination of a resilient member ilxed at one of its ends and carrying said armature and one of said contacts at its other end, said resilient member adapted to yield in the direction of force transmitted through said armature to said resilient member and combining the functions of rockably supporting the armature and receiving from said armature and storing potential energy imparted by said force prior to contact action, said resilient member having a major portion substantially normal to said transmitted force.

v4. In a switch inwhich a magnetically restrained non-resilient contact bearing armature is actuated by an external operating force stored as potential energy to eiect a snap action pf contacts, the combination of a resilient member yieldingly supporting said armature and disposed substantially normal to and thereby adapted to be biased by said operating force to a degree and in a direction to overcome said magnetic restraint, and means for applying operating energy to the unrestrained 'end of said armature for storage in said resilient member prior to contact action.

5. In a switch, an armature magnetically urged, a contact adjacent said armature coacting with a stationary contact, a switch lever carrying said armature and said first contact at one extremity thereof, a spring member resiliently and rockably supporting said lever, actuating means adapted to operatively engage said lever near the'other extremity thereof in opposition to either of its extremities.

6. In a switch, a base, a spring attached to said base, a rigid switch lever resiliently and rockably supported by said spring, an armature and a contact at one extremity of said lever cooperating respectively with a magnet and a contact on said base, an actuator bearing upon the other extremity of said lever in a direction to deflect said spring when said armature is restrained by said magnet'and to rock said lever and thereby open said contacts when said magnetic restraint is overcome, said spring having a portion substantially parallel to said lever and normal to the direction of force application.

7. In a switch a leaf spring rockably and resiliently supporting an arm terminating in an armature, a contact carried by said arm adjacent said armature, a second contact in apposition to said rst contact, a magnet cooperating with said armature normally to rock said arm into one position of said contacts, switch actuating means acting upon the other end of and disposed to rock said arm into the other position of said contacts, said leaf spring including a portion substantially normal to said actuating means and resilient to a degree to be displaced thereby prior to movement of said contacts to said other position whereby energy may be accumulated in said spring to impart snap action to Said contacts.

HAROLD .V.. ULLBERG.v 

